Edward FoxQuotes

Barnsby: What happened to you?

Weaver: He bit me in all the excitement. But damn it to hell, we did it, Colonel! We did it!

Barnsby: Yes we did, Sergeant! Yes we did!

Miller: And a merry Christmas!

Mallory: [chuckling] Yes, gentlemen, we did it! But before we can start awarding ourselves Victoria Crosses and Congressional Medals of Honor and so on and so forth and such like... I think I'd better point out that one, we're now on the wrong side of the river. That two, we have no hope whatsoever of rejoining the partisans. That three, this neck of the woods will soon be crawling with very bad-tempered Germans. And that four, I don't think our little genius Sergeant Miller there has even got a box of matches left in his suitcase. And so I think we can take it, gentlemen, that we're going to have a very long walk home.

Mallory: I don't suppose they taught you German at that awful school of yours?

Miller: What, instead of Latin? Heaven forbid, old boy.

Mallory: [thoughtfully] Miller, what would happen to the bridge if that central arch were suddenly hit by several million tons of water?

Miller, Barnsby: Water?

Mallory: I think we've been talking about the wrong target. Remember that dam we passed by on the way up here?

Miller: [suddenly all ears] Dam? What sort of dam?

Barnsby: It's just up the road, about half a mile that way.

Miller: Well, my dear chap, why didn't you say so before? Oh, I could do a tremendous job on the dam! See, with the dam, you've got your natural elements working for you. It's like having an enormous bath - what have you got to do? Pull the plug!

Weaver: [handed a pile of what looks suspiciously like dog poo] Now what the hell am I supposed to do with this?

Miller: Oh, I don't know. Try and imagine you're a dog. Oh for heaven's sake! On the road, man, on the road!

Weaver: [grumbling to himself] I thought you were supposed to pick up dog shit, not spread it around.

Maj. Schroeder: Ah, tell me what has all this to do with that, uh, suitcase case you keep looking at?

Mallory: Well, that suitcase is full of our penicillin.

Maj. Schroeder: Oh, indeed. Perhaps I could see some of it?

Mallory: Certainly, Major. Open it Miller.

Miller: You can't do that here, sir. You'll ruin the lot. You know perfectly well that any contamination will destroy it. It's got to be opened under laboratory conditions.

Barnsby: Now, look. Our experts have been studying that bridge for weeks, and they say it'll blow. I don't know where you learned your job, but I'm talking about the best construction engineers in the business!

Miller: Yes. Well, they're probably experts at building things, whereas I'm an expert at blowing them up, and you can take it from me that one would need a good eight hours to make a decent job on that bridge.

Jensen: [Handing Miller and Mallory a photograph; sees no sign that they recognize anyone in the picture] I'm afraid it's not exactly a masterpiece... but I wonder if you can identify this fellow. Think back to Navarone.

Miller: I'd rather not, sir.

Jensen: Nicolai? Yes. Let you down a bit, didn't he?

Mallory: But what about him? Andrea's people had him shot as a traitor, didn't they?

Jensen: Yes, so we were told. In fact, he escaped. He wasn't a traitor. He was a German agent, who we believe is operating now in Yugoslavia with the Partisans, posing as one Captain Lescovar. Now, you both knew Nicolai. In fact, you're the only people we know of can make a positive identification. So I'd like you to go out there and cope.

Miller: Cope, sir?

Mallory: Kill him.

The Gunsmith: Over what range will you fire?

The Jackal: I'm not sure yet but probably not more than 400 feet.

The Gunsmith: Will the gentleman be moving?

The Jackal: Stationary.

The Gunsmith: Will you go for a head shot or a chest shot?

The Jackal: Probably head.

The Gunsmith: What about the chance of a second shot?

The Jackal: Well I might get the chance but I doubt it. In any event I'll need a silencer to escape.

The Gunsmith: In that case you'd better have explosive bullets. I can prepare a handful along with the gun.

The Jackal: Glycerin or mercury?

The Gunsmith: Oh mercury... much cleaner.

Lieutenant Colonel Marc Rodin: We are not terrorists, you understand. We are patriots. Our duty is to the soldiers who've died fighting in Algeria, and to the three million French citizens who have always lived there.

The Jackal: And so you want to get rid of him.

Col. Rodin: [after a pause in which he, Commandant Montclair and Andre Casson look at each other] Speaking as a professional, do you think it's possible?

The Jackal: [thinks; smokes his cigarette] It's possible. The point is getting away with it. And speaking as a professional, that's a very important consideration.

Commandant Rene Montclair: [The Jackal nods, takes his cigarette out of his mouth.] But in principle, you'd say it could be done?

The Jackal: [thoughtfully] Yes...with enough time and planning. It would be much more difficult than most other targets.

Andre Casson: Why more?

The Jackal: Because de Gaulle has the best security service in the world. Their information is first class. You see, gentlemen, not only have your own efforts failed, but you've rather queered the pitch for everyone else.

Casson: How dare you suggest that?!

The Jackal: In this work, you simply can't afford to be emotional. That's why you've made so many mistakes.

Col. Rodin: But if we decided to employ a professional...

The Jackal: [He stands up and goes over to the window] You have to employ a professional. Your organization is so riddled with informants, that nothing you decide is a secret for long. No, the job would have to be done by an outsider. The only question, that is, by who, and how much.

Col. Rodin: Will you do it?

The Jackal: [after a pause, while he smokes] Yes.

Montclair: How much?

The Jackal: [seriously; he returns to the desk] You must understand that this is a once in a lifetime job. Whoever does it can never work again.

Montclair: How much do you want?

The Jackal: Half a million -

Montclair: [in disbelief; Rodin opens his mouth to protest but is stopped by the next dialogue] What?

The Jackal: [he gestures and nods] In cash. Half in advance, and half on completion.

Montclair: Half a million francs?

The Jackal: [Rodin, Montclair and Casson are in disbelief] Dollars.

Montclair: [stands up, leans over the desk at the Jackal] Are you mad?

The Jackal: [awkwardly; he walks over to the bed and picks up his coat] Considering you expect to get France in return, I'd have thought it a reasonable price. If you can't manage it, then there's...nothing more to be said.

Rodin: We accept.

The Jackal: [after a pause] How many people know about this?

Rodin: Just the four of us.

The Jackal: [He starts to walk back to the desk] Let's keep it that way. This job depends on absolute secrecy. No notes must be kept. If any one of you is captured, I shall feel free to call it off. I suggest you go somewhere and remain there under heavy guard until the job is done. Agreed?

Rodin: Agreed.

The Jackal: [takes a pen out of his inside jacket pocket; takes a piece of paper from the desk; He writes something on the paper during the next dialogue; Finishes writing and straightens up; Puts his pen back in his pocket] The planning will be mine. No one else will get the details, and you will hear nothing from me again. This is the name and account number of my bank in Switzerland. When I receive word that the first $250,000 has been deposited, I'll move - provided I'm ready. But I'll not be hurried or interfered with in any way.

Rodin: [as Montclair and Casson look to him; He passes the piece of paper to Montclair] Agreed.

The Jackal: [Rodin nods] Now, all I want from you is a telephone number in Paris that I could call about changes in de Gaulle's plan. But the contact mustn't know who I am, or what this is about. Send me the phone number by mail.

Montclair: I'd like to know how you expect us to find half a million dollars so quickly.

The Jackal: [He walks over to the beds. Rodin and Montclair are examining him] Use your network to rob some banks.

Rodin: [He stands up and walks over to the Jackal, as Montclair and Casson join him] One last thing. What codename will you use?

The Jackal: [Thinks for a moment] Why not "the Jackal"?

Rodin: [Looks briefly at Montclair and Casson; The Jackal smiles and walks away to the door] Why not? There's nothing more you want from us? From now on, you'll be completely alone.

The Jackal: [Steps away from the door; He looks from Rodin to Casson to Montclair; They all laugh as the Jackal opens the door, showing Kawalski outside] Oh, not completely. One will have the cooperation of de Gaulle. Well, he won't listen to his security service, and he's not the sort of man to stay out of the public eye, is he?

Rodin: [Shakes hands with the Jackal] A pleasant journey home, Mr... Mr Jackal.

The Jackal: This is a once in a lifetime job. Whoever does it can never work again.

M: Too many free radicals. That's your problem.

James Bond: Free radicals," sir?

M: Yes. They're toxins that destroy the body and the brain, caused by eating too much red meat and white bread and too many dry martinis!

James Bond: Then I shall cut out the white bread, sir.

M: Oh, you'll do more than that, 007. From now on you will suffer a strict regimen of diet and exercise; we shall purge those toxins from you!

James Bond: Shrublands?

M: You got it!